Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-25
4 Cbanee oe Policy Necessary.

FORT WORTH TEN Sept. p, 1851
To the Editor OF the Gazette.
There seems TO be s prevailing opinion
thst it would be dlsgracetul in the state
OF Texas 10 permit railroad companies
doing business in its borders 10 hire
guards for their protection. | would ask
do not banks III all large cities employ
special watchmen to protect their large
interests? Is it not fsct that the detec-
tive agencies Of the cultured and law
abiding north find their support from
corporations that do not trust the p0liti
cal powers that be, and who are tempo
rGrly the guGrdisUs of their pace and
property? We expect too much from our
civil officers When We pick up your pa
per in the morning after robbery we eX
peCt 10 lind the Old chestnut: "Sherlff
Shpp and Marshal Farmer were trans
ported, together with their posse and
hounds, TO the scene Of the robbery on
special, etc, - followed by the worse than
old Chestnut: "The dogs, though imme-
diately put on the TRAIL were seemingly
unable to track the robbers" and the
"Sderif and party returned completely
worn out unable 10 find the
least clue" or words 10 that eject. WHAT
else Csn we expect? A party OF deter
mined men with s booty OF thousands in
their possession, enabling them 70
sdopt any disguise and 20 travel TO any
point, are expected 10 have little enough
sense not IL elude, hours afterwards, q
sheTiff's pSrty, with shout $40 in tne CUT
tit, and dogs that seem unable 10 track
anything outside OF cold heefsteek. We
nave rs able and IS VigiiaGt officers e.
any county in the state, aGd when they
stsrt after train robbers, there must be-
one deep smile ew&y down in their
sleeve, at the idea OF their being expect
cd TO capture the gang. They kCoW that,
like the Frenchmsn, they are expected 10
make ''Oue grand flourish" and then
subai3e iutO & state Ct "inyCuOus desue-
tuGe"
Has Sheriff Shipp or aay OF his officers,
the thousands necessary So follow up the
trail Of bold, Yigij9ut ard mJneyed rob-
bers who will tNpeud thousands 10 in
sure their saietyr Why does no. this
railroad put its sleulh-hOuGG, FurlOng,
On the hunG q these robbers?
Simply because X would cost TOO much
After the former BarhrC0k robbery the
serviCea Of q man, well Vecgod in the
criminal methods, VINO has had years Of
experiences and is known 70 be RESPONSE
bic was offered To the rsilr0ad company
IS guard, and had his services been Sc
cured either the last robbery would rot
nave been committed or most tangible
clue would have been left about the
premises.
Ais services were rejected and he WIS
Offered $500 10 secure the robbers.
Z lie must have jnwardly smiled to thiDb
shat any set Of officials with 81 ounce OF
brains would have supposed inst ne would
start out, furnish his OWE CapitzI and luz
down men with thousands ia tIeir posses
sion which they could repleniah Just IS
long IS the railroad continued sucl n&r-
row minded policy.
This sentiment of state protection is
lost upon railroads. They hire FuFIong
and his detectives, they pay large sums
for "spOtters" and have 81 STmy OF paid
spies and eufsssrieS when IL is 20 their
advantage to hire them.
Then agein, cur gslIaut Governor offers
such priuCelY rewards, which, # an officer
obtained, would not reimburse MIN unless
he Just happened to run up On his msn.
policy which now prevails throughout
the state. When Governor P)ss or aHy
set Of railroad iii isis thiuk th6t men aTe
going 10 risk their time, their money and
their lives TO capture CiCh GespJrld0es
for $500 they sorely miscalculate the in
telligeDce Of men who make tbe rLa8irg
down CT criminals their profession. No
man who has not been III the business has
any idea Of the immense cost OF following
astute eld mOneyed outlaws. Il is easy
enough TO track poor, poyeTtY-striCEen
Gsyil Who has nowhere 80 lay his head,
bat Just IS sure as "shOotin'" as long as
the present Railroad aud state policy is
pursued Texas will be one grand the&ter
OF railroad crime. COMMON SENSE.